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Social media is no longer a luxury, but rather an integral factor in your marketing plan. That doesn’t mean you need to be on all platforms and spend hours posting, researching, liking and engaging with prospects and leads to benefit from a social media presence. Your customers are on social media, so you need to be there too.

This is the final post in a four part series on how to create a marketing plan for your startup. We have looked at the 5 questions that you need to answer before you start marketing, the 5 factors that influence customers, and 3 popular types of marketing strategies. Now let’s look at what a basic marketing plan should include. You’ll also find a link to a template to get you started.

Part 4: Want a Successful Marketing Plan? Be Sure to Include These 4 Elements

Once you have done all the necessary research, described your customers, competition, product and market, you have all the information you need to create a marketing plan that will implement your marketing strategy.

Be sure to write down your marketing plan—just like you did your strategy. It will help you stay focused on your goals, maintain a schedule, stay on budget and work consistently to promote your marketing strategy.

This is the third of a four part series on how to create a marketing plan for your startup. We have looked at the 5 questions you must answer before you start marketing and the 5 factors that you use to influence your customers. Now let’s look at three marketing strategies.

Part 3: Choose the Right Marketing Strategy

Once you have established your goals, researched your customers and competition, and identified your marketing mix, it’s time to step back and create your overall marketing strategy. Think of this as your master plan for marketing success. It is the big picture view of how you will reach your marketing goals. Once you begin to list the ways you will make this plan a reality, you have stepped beyond strategy and begun to formulate the tactics you will use to implement it.

There are dozens of different strategies. Here are 3 of the most common: Continue reading →

This is the second of a four part series on how you can create a marketing plan for your startup. The first blog listed 5 questions that you need to answer before you start marketing. Now it is time to look at 5 factors that you control and use to influence your customers.

Part 2: 5 Ways to Influence Your Customers’ Perception

5 factors affect your customers’ perception of your product or service and influence their decision to buy. Commonly known as the 5 Ps or marketing mix, these are the elements you must understand before selecting your marketing strategy and tactics.

Product: What are you selling? Describe the features that influence a customer to buy your product or service. Think about what it does, how it looks and how it is packaged. What problem does it solve? What need does it fulfill? How does it make your customer feel? For example, when you sell cosmetics, you are also selling beauty. When you sell organic food, you are also selling health.

This is the first of a four part seriesabout creatingmarketing plans for your startup. You will need to gather information, analyze what it means for your business, and then build a marketing plan that will target your ideal customer. A little planning will save you time and money and enable you to devise a consistent and compelling marketing message.

Part I: 5 Questions to Answer Before You Start Marketing

Most entrepreneurs are passionate about their products and services. They know what their customers need but they struggle with how to get the word out in an efficient and persuasive manner. Entrepreneurs often undertake the marketing job themselves. Their passion can make them effective sales people but when it comes to marketing they are not sure where to start.